Bill Text: FL S0958 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Local Government Employees
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-16 - Chapter No. 2024-90 [S0958 Detail]
Download: Florida-2024-S0958-Enrolled.html
ENROLLED
2024 Legislature SB 958
2024958er
1
2 An act relating to local government employees;
3 amending s. 145.11, F.S.; revising the base salary
4 used to calculate the compensation of county tax
5 collectors; amending s. 409.1664, F.S.; defining the
6 term “tax collector employee”; providing that tax
7 collector employees are eligible to receive specified
8 monetary benefits from the state for adopting children
9 within the child welfare system; authorizing tax
10 collector employees to apply for the monetary benefits
11 if certain conditions are met; requiring such
12 employees to apply to the Department of Children and
13 Families to obtain the benefits; revising
14 construction; authorizing the department to adopt
15 specified rules; creating s. 445.09, F.S.; authorizing
16 specified tax collectors to budget for and pay
17 specified bonuses to employees, pending a specified
18 approval; amending s. 1001.47, F.S.; revising the base
19 salary used to calculate the compensation of district
20 school superintendents; making a technical change;
21 amending s. 1003.48, F.S.; authorizing district school
22 boards to contract with a county tax collector’s
23 office to administer road tests on school grounds at
24 one or more schools within the district; providing an
25 effective date.
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 145.11, Florida
30 Statutes, is amended to read:
31 145.11 Tax collector.—
32 (1) Each tax collector shall receive as salary the amount
33 indicated, based on the population of his or her county. In
34 addition, a compensation shall be made for population increments
35 over the minimum for each population group, which shall be
36 determined by multiplying the population in excess of the
37 minimum for the group times the group rate.
38
39 Pop. Group County Pop. Range Base Salary Group Rate
40 Minimum Maximum
41 I -0- 49,999$26,250$21,250 $0.07875
42 II 50,000 99,999 29,40024,400 0.06300
43 III 100,000 199,999 32,55027,550 0.02625
44 IV 200,000 399,999 35,17530,175 0.01575
45 V 400,000 999,999 38,32533,325 0.00525
46 VI 1,000,000 41,47536,475 0.00400
47 Section 2. Section 409.1664, Florida Statutes, is amended
48 to read:
49 409.1664 Adoption benefits for qualifying adoptive
50 employees of state agencies, veterans, servicemembers, and law
51 enforcement officers, and tax collector employees.—
52 (1) As used in this section, the term:
53 (a) “Child within the child welfare system” has the same
54 meaning as provided in s. 409.166(2).
55 (b) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as
56 provided in s. 943.10(1).
57 (c) “Qualifying adoptive employee” means a full-time or
58 part-time employee of a state agency, a charter school
59 established under s. 1002.33, or the Florida Virtual School
60 established under s. 1002.37, who is not an independent
61 contractor and who adopts a child within the child welfare
62 system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. The term
63 includes instructional personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01, who
64 are employed by the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
65 and includes other-personal-services employees who have been
66 continuously employed full time or part time by a state agency
67 for at least 1 year.
68 (d) “Servicemember” has the same meaning as in s.
69 250.01(19).
70 (e) “State agency” means a branch, department, or agency of
71 state government for which the Chief Financial Officer processes
72 payroll requisitions, a state university or Florida College
73 System institution as defined in s. 1000.21, a school district
74 unit as defined in s. 1001.30, or a water management district as
75 defined in s. 373.019.
76 (f) “Tax collector employee” means an employee of an office
77 of the county tax collector in this state.
78 (g) “Veteran” has the same meaning as in s. 1.01(14).
79 (2) A qualifying adoptive employee, veteran, or
80 servicemember who adopts a child within the child welfare system
81 who is difficult to place as described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is
82 eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary benefit in the amount of
83 $10,000 per such child, subject to applicable taxes. A law
84 enforcement officer or tax collector employee who adopts a child
85 within the child welfare system who is difficult to place as
86 described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a lump
87 sum monetary benefit in the amount of $25,000 per such child,
88 subject to applicable taxes. A qualifying adoptive employee,
89 veteran, or servicemember who adopts a child within the child
90 welfare system who is not difficult to place as described in s.
91 409.166(2)(d)2. is eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary
92 benefit in the amount of $5,000 per such child, subject to
93 applicable taxes. A law enforcement officer or tax collector
94 employee who adopts a child within the child welfare system who
95 is not difficult to place as described in s. 409.166(2)(d)2. is
96 eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary benefit in the amount of
97 $10,000 per each such child, subject to applicable taxes. A
98 qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the Florida
99 Virtual School may retroactively apply for the monetary benefit
100 provided in this subsection if such employee was employed by a
101 charter school or the Florida Virtual School when he or she
102 adopted a child within the child welfare system pursuant to
103 chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2015. A veteran or servicemember
104 may apply for the monetary benefit provided in this subsection
105 if he or she is domiciled in this state and adopts a child
106 within the child welfare system pursuant to chapter 63 on or
107 after July 1, 2020. A law enforcement officer may apply for the
108 monetary benefit provided in this subsection if he or she is
109 domiciled in this state and adopts a child within the child
110 welfare system pursuant to chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2022.
111 A tax collector employee may apply for the monetary benefit
112 provided in this subsection if he or she is domiciled in this
113 state and adopts a child within the child welfare system under
114 chapter 63 on or after July 1, 2024.
115 (a) Benefits paid to a qualifying adoptive employee who is
116 a part-time employee must be prorated based on the qualifying
117 adoptive employee’s full-time equivalency at the time of
118 applying for the benefits.
119 (b) Monetary benefits awarded under this subsection are
120 limited to one award per adopted child within the child welfare
121 system.
122 (c) The payment of a lump-sum monetary benefit for adopting
123 a child within the child welfare system under this section is
124 subject to a specific appropriation to the department for such
125 purpose.
126 (3) A qualifying adoptive employee must apply to his or her
127 agency head, or to his or her school director in the case of a
128 qualifying adoptive employee of a charter school or the Florida
129 Virtual School, to obtain the monetary benefit provided in
130 subsection (2). A veteran, or servicemember, or tax collector
131 employee must apply to the department to obtain the benefit. A
132 law enforcement officer must apply to the Department of Law
133 Enforcement to obtain the benefit. Applications must be on forms
134 approved by the department and must include a certified copy of
135 the final order of adoption naming the applicant as the adoptive
136 parent. Monetary benefits shall be approved on a first-come,
137 first-served basis based upon the date that each fully completed
138 application is received by the department.
139 (4) This section does not preclude a qualifying adoptive
140 employee, veteran, servicemember, or law enforcement officer, or
141 tax collector employee from receiving adoption assistance for
142 which he or she may qualify under s. 409.166 or any other
143 statute that provides financial incentives for the adoption of
144 children.
145 (5) Parental leave for a qualifying adoptive employee must
146 be provided in accordance with the personnel policies and
147 procedures of his or her employer.
148 (6) The department may adopt rules to administer this
149 section. The rules may provide for an application process such
150 as, but not limited to, an open enrollment period during which
151 qualifying adoptive employees, veterans, servicemembers, or law
152 enforcement officers, or tax collector employees may apply for
153 monetary benefits under this section.
154 (7) The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse a monetary
155 benefit to a qualifying adoptive employee upon the department’s
156 submission of a payroll requisition. The Chief Financial Officer
157 shall transfer funds from the department to a state university,
158 a Florida College System institution, a school district unit, a
159 charter school, the Florida Virtual School, or a water
160 management district, as appropriate, to enable payment to the
161 qualifying adoptive employee through the payroll systems as long
162 as funds are available for such purpose.
163 (8) To receive an approved monetary benefit under this
164 section, a veteran or servicemember must be registered as a
165 vendor with the state.
166 (9) Each state agency shall develop a uniform procedure for
167 informing employees about this benefit and for assisting the
168 department in making eligibility determinations and processing
169 applications. Any procedure adopted by a state agency is valid
170 and enforceable if the procedure does not conflict with the
171 express terms of this section.
172 Section 3. Section 445.09, Florida Statutes, is created to
173 read:
174 445.09 Bonuses for employees of tax collectors.
175 Notwithstanding any other law, a county tax collector may budget
176 for and pay a hiring or retention bonus to an employee if such
177 expenditure is approved by the Department of Revenue in the
178 respective budget of the tax collector.
179 Section 4. Section 1001.47, Florida Statutes, is amended to
180 read:
181 1001.47 District school superintendent; salary.—
182 (1) Each elected district school superintendent shall
183 receive as salary the amount indicated pursuant to this section.
184 However, a district school board, by majority vote, may approve
185 a salary in excess of the amount specified in this section.
186 (2) Each elected district school superintendent shall
187 receive a base salary, the amounts indicated in this subsection,
188 based on the population of the county the elected superintendent
189 serves. In addition, compensation shall be made for population
190 increments over the minimum for each population group, which
191 shall be determined by multiplying the population in excess of
192 the minimum for the group times the group rate. The product of
193 such calculation shall be added to the base salary to determine
194 the adjusted base salary. Laws that increase the base salary
195 provided in this subsection shall contain provisions on no other
196 subject.
197
198 Pop. Group County Pop. Range Base Salary Group Rate
199 Minimum Maximum
200 I -0- 49,999$26,250$21,250 $0.07875
201 II 50,000 99,999 29,40024,400 0.06300
202 III 100,000 199,999 32,55027,550 0.02625
203 IV 200,000 399,999 35,17530,175 0.01575
204 V 400,000 999,999 38,32533,325 0.00525
205 VI 1,000,000 41,47536,475 0.00400
206 (3) The adjusted base salaries of elected district school
207 superintendents shall be increased annually as provided for in
208 s. 145.19. Any salary previously paid to elected
209 superintendents, including the salary calculated for fiscal
210 years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, which was consistent with chapter
211 145 and s. 230.303, Florida Statutes (2001), is hereby ratified
212 and validated.
213 (4)(a) There shall be an additional $2,000 per year special
214 qualification salary paid by district school boards for each
215 elected district school superintendent who has met the
216 certification requirements established by the Department of
217 Education. Any elected district school superintendent who is
218 certified during a calendar year shall receive in that year a
219 pro rata share of the special qualification salary based on the
220 remaining period of the year.
221 (b) In order to qualify for the special qualification
222 salary provided by paragraph (a), the elected district school
223 superintendent must complete the requirements established by the
224 Department of Education within 6 years after first taking
225 office.
226 (c) After an elected district school superintendent meets
227 the requirements of paragraph (a), in order to remain certified
228 the district school superintendent shall thereafter be required
229 to complete each year a course of continuing education as
230 prescribed by the Department of Education.
231 (5)(a) The Department of Education shall provide a
232 leadership development and performance compensation program for
233 elected district school superintendents, comparable to chief
234 executive officer development programs for corporate executive
235 officers, to include:
236 1. A content-knowledge-and-skills phase consisting of:
237 creative leadership models and theory, demonstration of
238 effective practice, simulation exercises and personal skills
239 practice, and assessment with feedback, taught in a professional
240 training setting under the direction of experienced, successful
241 trainers.
242 2. A competency-acquisition phase consisting of on-the-job
243 application of knowledge and skills for a period of not less
244 than 6 months following the successful completion of the
245 content-knowledge-and-skills phase. The competency-acquisition
246 phase shall be supported by adequate professional technical
247 assistance provided by experienced trainers approved by the
248 department. Competency acquisition shall be demonstrated through
249 assessment and feedback.
250 (b) Upon the successful completion of both phases and
251 demonstrated successful performance, as determined by the
252 department, an elected district school superintendent shall be
253 issued a Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development
254 Certificate, and the department shall pay an annual performance
255 salary incentive of not less than $3,000 nor more than $7,500
256 based upon his or her performance evaluation.
257 (c) An elected district school superintendent’s eligibility
258 to continue receiving the annual performance salary incentive is
259 contingent upon his or her continued performance assessment and
260 follow-up followup training prescribed by the department.
261 (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and s.
262 145.19, elected district school superintendents may reduce their
263 salary rate on a voluntary basis.
264 Section 5. Section 1003.48, Florida Statutes, is amended to
265 read:
266 1003.48 Instruction in operation of motor vehicles; road
267 tests.—
268 (1) A course of study and instruction in the safe and
269 lawful operation of a motor vehicle shall be made available by
270 each district school board to students in the secondary schools
271 in the state. The secondary school shall provide preferential
272 enrollment to a student who is in the custody of the Department
273 of Children and Families if the student maintains appropriate
274 progress as required by the school. As used in this section, the
275 term “motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in s. 320.01(1)(a)
276 and includes motorcycles and mopeds. Instruction in motorcycle
277 or moped operation may be limited to classroom instruction. The
278 course may not be made a part of, or a substitute for, any of
279 the minimum requirements for graduation.
280 (2) In order to make such a course available to any
281 secondary school student, the district school board may use any
282 one of the following procedures or any combination thereof:
283 (a) Use instructional personnel employed by the district
284 school board.
285 (b) Contract with a commercial driving school licensed
286 under chapter 488.
287 (c) Contract with an instructor certified under chapter
288 488.
289 (3) District school boards shall earn funds on full-time
290 equivalent students at the appropriate basic program cost
291 factor, regardless of the method by which such courses are
292 offered.
293 (4) For the purpose of financing the driver education
294 program in the secondary schools, there shall be levied an
295 additional 50 cents per year to the driver license fee required
296 by s. 322.21. The additional fee shall be promptly remitted to
297 the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which shall
298 transmit the fee to the Chief Financial Officer to be deposited
299 in the General Revenue Fund.
300 (5) The district school board shall prescribe standards for
301 the course required by this section and for instructional
302 personnel directly employed by the district school board. A
303 certified instructor or licensed commercial driving school is
304 sufficiently qualified and is not required to meet any standards
305 in lieu of or in addition to those prescribed under chapter 488.
306 (6) District school boards may contract with the county tax
307 collector for a tax collector employee to administer road tests
308 on school grounds at one or more schools within the district.
309 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
